People are filing out of the square, and I snap into movement, letting my mind go blank to everything but my tasks, helping close booths, stabilize everything for the night, and prep it for easy opening in the morning.
The distraction doesn’t last, and when I get home, it’s late.
My shower infuses me with some of the heat I’ve lost, but my center is still cold.
Like I’m missing an integral part of me.
Settling myself on the couch, I wish Greyson goodnight and stare blankly at the television.
The house smells faintly of cedar and wood smoke when Drew slips in.
Her hair’s damp from the mist outside, eyes puffy from crying.
She doesn’t say a word, just folds into me on the couch like she’s been holding herself together too long.
Warmth blooms in my chest as I wrap my arm around her and pull her in tighter to my side.
I let the silence stretch, but it’s our usual kind. The one that’s a comfort for us like it used to be.
Her leg drapes over my knee, her head settles on my chest, and she nestles into me. I close my eyes to soak it in.
But I need to talk to her, too.
I smooth my hand over her hair, long and silky brown strands that slip easily through my fingers. “What did she say?”
Drew exhales, a sound halfway between a laugh and a sob. “She offered me my old job back. Said there’s still time if I want it.”
There it is. The thing that’s been gnawing at me all evening.
I keep my voice stable. “You want it?”
She hesitates. “It’s stable. I know the job. I’m good at it. It pays well.”
I try to keep the huff out of my voice. “And you’ll be back with all of your friends.”
Drew flinches against my side. “I didn’t really have any…but I also don’t want to keep starting over.”
My arm tightens around her, and her hand squeezes my side to lean into it. It’s hard to not let it give me too much hope.
“You’re not starting over. You’rebuildingsomething new. There’s a difference.”
Her fingers twist in my shirt, and the tension inside her means she’s fighting her emotions. I drop a kiss on the top of her head.
“It doesn’t feel new. It feels temporary. Like I’m just home to visit.”
I swallow hard.You could stay.The words burn the back of my throat, but I don’t let them out. Not yet.
“The Lodge won’t have events year-round. Once the holiday crowd leaves, there won’t be enough work for me to stay on full time.”
“We’ll find something,” I say automatically.
Drew shakes her head against my chest. “You always think you can fix everything.”
“Not everything,” I admit. “Just the things that matter.”
Her head tilts back to look up at me, her dark brown eyes getting prettier every time I look into them.
“But, do you understand what that means? Living in my old room at my parents’ house, working at the bakery during the off season? There’s not much for me to do in Pinebrook.”
